Banjo



(No Model.)-

. 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1.

H. Mc-GORD.

BANJO.

Patented Aug. 14, 18 83.

iNVENTOR:

ATTESTI (No Model.)

' 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. H. MQGORD.

. BANJO. No. 283,352.

Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

wmmnmumlllil Alfiiat: WM WM fn enior QDdZZMQ Juli NA PETERS. Pymwu nnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

HERCULES MOOORD, or en LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of-Letters Patent No. 283,352, dated August14:, 1883.

Application filed February 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERcULEs MoGoRn, of

St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Banjos,of which the fol- 5 lowing is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is view one-half in plan and onehalf inbottom view; Fig. 2, an axial section; Fig. 3, a detail, being a sectiontaken through the shell of the banjo-body; Fig. 4, a detail, being asection similar to that of Fig. 3, but illustrating a modification ofthe channels for the straining-wires; Figs. 5 and 6, details, beingrespectively a plan and a side elevation, showing the connection of thestraining-wires with the straining-hoop; Fig. 7, an edge elevation, halfin section, of the disk to which the straining-wires are attached Fig.8, a plan of the disk, and Fig. 9 a section taken on the line 9 g ofFig. 6. v

The same letters denote the same parts.

The present invention relates partly to the improved means fortightening the head of the banjo, and partly to the improved mode ofstrengthening the body of the-banjo.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of the banjo. The bodyconsists of a shell of metal, or other suitable material, and of theshape substantially as shownthat is, at the top where the head B isattached the body is furnished with an inturned rounded flange, a. At athere is. an outwardly- GX tending offset. At the center of the bottomthere is a recess, A, and from the offset a inward toward the recess Athe shell is rounded, and the shell is also rounded in forming theentrance to the recess A. The shell or back may be close, or it may beperforated, as shown at A The head B is stretched over the roundedbearing a, the head for this purpose being attached to the ring 11,which encircles the body A above the offset a and the usualstraining-hoop, 0, being fitted to the construction and to bear downupon the ring I).

D D represent wires, cords, or hands used in straining the head B. Attheir upper ends the wires D D are connected with the hoop C. At theirlower ends the wires are connected with the disk E, and between the hoopG and Renewed June 30, 1883. (No model.)

the disk E the wires pass over the shell of the hoop, preferably bymeans of the loops (1 d, which are passed over studs 0 c on the hoop O,as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6.

. The mode of connecting the wires and the disk E is preferably asshown, the ends of the wires being first inserted in the perforations ein the disk, thence passed around the outer edge of the disk, thencethrough the perforations'c in the disk, and thence to the hoop 0.Between the disk and the hoop the bearing over which the wires arepassed should be rounded, so that in drawing the wires no obstacle shallbe presented to their movement, and the wires kept from breaking. Thewires may be drawn directly upon the outer surface of the body A; or thewires may be drawn in or through depressions or channels a, formed thebody A, as shown in. Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4. It

underneath the shell, as through the channels a, Fig. 4; or they may liein depressions-'such these positions the wires are out of the way, andalso the shell of the body, in forming the channels or depressions inquestion, is strength ened.

The disk E is arranged at the center of the bottom of the body A, and itis connected with the body A, so that it can be moved toward and fromthe head B. The recess Af is a convenient receptacle for the disk E, sothat when the instrument is being used the disk E shall not projectoutwardly beyond the general level of the bottom of the body A, and sothat space is furnished into which the disk may be moved in strainingthe wires and head B.

The preferable mode of connecting the disk E with the body A is'shown inFigs. 1 and 2. A bolt, 6, having the head 0*, and threaded at its innerend, passes through the disk E and en gages with a nut formed in, upon,or connected with the shell of the body A at the center of the body, andby screwing the bolt into the nut the disk is drawn toward the head B.

WVhen the head is originally attached, the wire Z) in practice is aninch, or thereabout, above the offset (1?. This affords ample opbody A.The wires are connected with the in, upon, through, or underneath theshell of is better to draw the wires through channels as shown at a,Figs. 1, 2, 3as in either of .75

portunity for stretching the head 13 as from time to time is needed. Itwill be observed that the bearing a, over which the head is stretched,is rounded, and thus the head can be tightened from time to time as itbecomesjoose or slack from the natural stretching of the skin, and thetone of the instrument thereby properly maintained. The tightening iseffected by screwing the bolt 0 into the nut in the body A. All of thewires D D being connected with the disk E, the entire head can be evenlytightened at a single operation. The life of the head is thereforematerially prolonged, and the operation of tightening the head madepractical and easy by means of the present construction.

In a banjo constructed as has been above described it will be observedthat the flange u, in connection with the rounded back, acts as astiffener, and this construction enables the usual. extension of thebanjo-neck to be omitted. The flange (I. also serves another purpose. Abanjo, at the top or at or near the plane of the head and in thedirection of the banjostrings, has to withstand a collapsing-strain,caused by the pulling ol' the strings when tightened, while at thebottom of the banjobody a tcnsive strain. must be provided for. To thisend it has been customary heretofore to extend the banjo-neek throughthe body of the banjo for the purpose thereby of supply ing thebanjo-body with a stittening-frame. Such a construction, however, isobjectionable, in that it injuriously al'i'ects the tone of the instrument by interfering with the vibration. The dit'lieulty mentioned isovercome, and the banjo-body at the same time sui'iieientlystrengthened, by means of the flange a. The ottset c also serves tosupplement the flange a. The shape otlthcbottom of the body A is alsoiavo'rablc l'orwithstanding the strain inci dent to that part of theconstruction.

I. am aware that heads 01' kettle-d rums, which devices are usuallysupported in an upright position, have sometimes been tightened cireumicrentially by a single mechanism centrally placed; also, that aninwardly-curved vllange has been before used.

I. claim- 1. In abanjo or similar musical instrument, an entiretightening device arranged centrally in a recess in the body and commonto the different straining wires, substantially as set forth.

2. In a banjo, the combination, with the p body having depressions orchannels formed therein, of a tightening device common to all thestrainingwircs, substantially as described.

In abanjo or similar musical instrument, the combination of thestraining-hoop C, the studs 0 c, the wires 1) I), having the loops [1(7, the disk I and the bolt 0, substantially as described.

i. The combination of the body A, the head I3, the hoop (l, the wires I)D, the disk 1* and the bolt 0, said bolt and disk being situatedcentrally within a recess in the body, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a banjo, of the head B, the body A, and thetightening-wires I) 1), said wires at their upper ends being attached.to the tightening-hoop O, and the lower ends of the wire being attachedto the disk I lo 'ated within a recess in the body or the device,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a banjo or similar pnusieal instrument. a tightening devicearranged centrally in a recess in the body, substantially as set forth.

7. In. a banjo or similar musical instrument, a series oftightening-wires, the lower ends of which wires are attached to a commoncentral tightening device, whereby they are drawn, in tightening thehead o t the instrument toward the said head.

8. In a banjo or similar device, in combina tion with a body having arounded or arched back, as shown and described, the curved flange a,constructed substantially as set forth. 9. A banjo or similar musical.instrument, the body A of which has an offset, a, constructedsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

10. A banjo or similar musical. instrument. the body A ofwhich has arounded bottom having the recess A, substantially as describetfl.

In testimony of said invention witness in y hand, at St. Louis,llfissouri, this 3d. day of llebruary, .1882.

HER CT I LES ll [C(ORI in. presence of Ronnnr Bums. III. R. Beans.

